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i.e., aS representing Christ and acting in His power (cf. John 21:22, 23 ; 1 Cor. 5: 4, 5). The purpose o f this forgiveness was in order that Satan should not get an advantage over them. The thought is if they refusec[ forgiveness the man might be swallowed up with over-much sorrow and give up and fall into Satan’s power. Satan gains many a man through the over-harsh treatment o f sinners by Christians, who mean well but are not wise. Satan is full o f devices, and we do well to be on our guard against them. Can we say with Paul, “We are not ignorant o f his devices” ? Tuesday, January 22 . 2 Cor. 2 : 12 , 13 . Paul’s intense love for the saints in Cor inth and deep concern about them was fur ther-seen by the fact that coming to Troas and finding there an open door to preach the gospel he could find no relief to his spirit because Titus was not there to inform him how things were going in Corinth. Reluctantly indeed must one who was so eager to preach the gospel everywhere have turned his back on Troas and its open door, but he could not rest until he got news about the Church in Corinth. So Paul pushed on to Macedonia and there met Titus. In Macedonia Paul met with graye troubles, but the news brought him by Titus from Corinth comforted him abundantly (ch. 7 :5-7). At a later date he had another opportunity to preach in Troas and to build up the Converts made in this brief visit. Wednesday, January 23 . 2 Cor. 2 : 14 . In verses 14 to 16 Paul uses the figure o f a Roman conqueror in a triumphal pro cession, leading his captives triumph, while incense1 was offered before him in his march. Instead o f speaking here o f God , always causing him to triumph, .as the Authorized Version reads, Paul speaks of God a s‘always leading him in his triumphal procession (R . V .), i.e., God led him about from place to place (to Troas, Macedonia, etc.,) as one whom He has conquered, an illustration of God’s own conquering (and saving) power (cf. Tim. 1:16). But Paul
him. That is the way God treats the vilest sinner when he repents (Isa. SS :7). The man referred to in this epistle was, as we learn from 1 Cor. S, a -very grave and very gross offender, nevertheless, as the punish ment had brought him to repentance the punishment should be discontinued and the man forgiven and comforted. Some might think that continuing the punishment which had done so much good might do him more good still. Not so. A proper amount of sorrow does good, over-much sorrow swal lows a man down (v. 7. The word trans lated “ swallowed up” means really “swal lowed down” ). Parents would do well to bear this in mind in disciplining their chil dren, and churches ,would do well to bear it in mind in disciplining their members when they go astray. Now Paul turns advo cate for the one whose punishment he had urged in his former epistle (v. 8). He beseeches them to confirm their love toward him. The man had gone astray most fright fully (1 Cor. 5:1), but that mattered not, they must “love” him. This shows us how we should deal with fellow Christians who have fallen into the deepest sin, when they truly repent. W e should “confirm our love” toward them. This, of course, does not mean that we should at once appoint them to some position o f prominence and power in the church. There are sins of such a character that if a minister o f the gospel for example, commits them, he for feits his right to be a preacher o f the gos pel, but nevertheless, if he repents he does not forfeit his right to our love and our help. Monday, January 21 . 2 Cor, 2 : 9 - 11 . Paul here gives us a still further reason for writing them instead of coming to them. He sought to put them to the test as to whether they would prove obedient to all things. They stood this test (ch. 7 :7), now he was ready to forgive any one whom they would forgive. He speaks o f the for giveness of the offender in the past teftse, taking it for granted that they will forgive when he forgave “in the person o f Christ,”
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